Line-spacing mechanism for adding-machines, type-writers, and the like.



v 1. G. VINCENTE. NISNLFOR ADDING NIACHINESfTYPE WRITERS, AND THE LIKE.

um: sPAclNG MECHA l APPLICATION FILED AUG.3I| 1995- Patented. Jan.'11, 1916;`

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,miran s'rafrne rarniyr oiiricn JESSE Gr. VINCENT, F DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNORfTO BUR-ROUGHS ADDING 'MACHINE COMPANY, oF DETROIT,

MICHIGAN,'A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN. i

LINE-SPACING\MECHANISM1FQR ADDING-MACHINES, TYPE-WRITERS,`AND THE LIKE.

My invention has relation to line spacing.

mechanism used iii connection with platens of adding machines, typewriters, and the vention` I have shown it applied tothe well` i eiators and the dierent characters of like, as well as in a combined typewriter and adding machine'and in fact in any machine where p aper'is to he fed one space at a time, which operation is commonly known as line spacing. However,'for the purpose of a clear and definite description of my inknown Burroughs adding machine, as substantially described and illustrated in the IVilliam Sfui'i'oiiglis Patents Nos. 504,963

and 505,078, issued von September 12th, 1893, but as above indicated, myinvention is not to be limited to use 'on this particular' machine or to this particular type of machine, but that it is capable of use wherever line spacing is employed.

' T othose familiar with the art it isa well known lfact that line spacing mechanismsheretofore employed are unable to prevent over-rotation of the platen .caused by high speeds of some operators, with the result that a uniform and even spacing ormovement of the platen has been practically impossible heretofore.

My invention is mechanism wheieby such l over-rotation. of the platen is absolutely prevented, regardless of the-different speedsiof different opor touch of such operators.

My invention also has provision for rotating the platen Vfreely by hand in a noveland simple manner.

Other features of advantage and. utility of my line spacing mechanism will be apparent from the description hereinafter given. l l f Y In the drawings Figure I is an elevation, partly in section of the rear end of the right-hand side of a Burroughs adding machine, the cap being shown removed from Specification of Letters Patent.

dotted lines in said figure. I -this oscillation of 1the shaft and its cam vby the bracket 7,65,

designed to overcome' these difficulties and to provide line spacing stroke Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

" Application filed August 31, 1905. Serial No. 276,542.

the feeding mechanism, which is in association with the platen spindle or shaft; Fig.

II aA front elevation of the right-hand end of the paper carriage shown in Fig..I but with said cap illustrated in its proper position on the feeding mechanism; Fig. IIIY a perspective view of said cap; and Fig. IV a section taken on the line .A-B of Fig. II, and Fig. Va detail view of the twohubs 1731 and v1732. 'y 1 .As theconstruction andv mode of operation of a Burroughs adding machine is so to oscillate in a clockwise direction uponl the initial movement of the operating hanwell known and as only a portion ofsuch dle or main drivingshaft of the machine,

and in which oscillation its cam plate 1715' is moved from the position shown,` in full lines in Fig. I to the position shown in plate is to rock the 'lever 1720 from its full line position to its dotted line position indicated -in Fig. I. This lever1720 which is journaled on the stud or pin 1706 supported vis provided at its for'- ward end with an anti-friction roller 1735 held thereto by the stud` 17549; and arranged to contact or coperate with the cam surface upon the y upper edge of the cam plate 1715. I 1720 4passes through anopening in the back plate 1116 of the machine '.case and is. connected at its extreme lrearward end by means of the stud 1755i with a vertically movable or sliding bar orl connecting link 171311-, which is operatively connected by means of the arm 1723 withthe rock-shaft 1703 -in such manner as to oscillate-it in -an anticlockwise direction wheneverthe lever 17 :2O is rocked or moved from the full line to the dotted line position of Fig. I, thatis whenever the connecting link 171521, is depressed and the arms 1723 thereby oscillated to their dotted line positions indicated in Fig. I.

The result of i The rearward end of the lever*v ...The connecting 1ink1713- is provided` with suitable bearings arranged on the back yplate The shaft 1703 carries at its outer'righthand end, Fig. Il, a hub or collar 17 31 which has a cut-away portion arranged to coperat'ewith another cut-away. portion of a simiv lar hub 1732 secured to the shaft 1703,all

as indicated in detail in Fig. V. The result of this construction is to permit of an. oscillation of the shaft 1703 greater than that of the hub 1731 for reasons which will be apparent from the description of the mecha'- nism connected with and operated by the hub 1731. To this hub 1731 is secureda doiible-armed lever 1711 which-,is spring pressed in an anti-clockwise Adirection in suitable manner, as by means of thespring 1783, which is fastened at its lower end to the pin 1758 at the rearward end of the lever 1711 and at its upper end to the pin 1760, projecting` laterally from the s'de plate 1717 of the carriage frame. During the anticlockwise oscillation of shaft 1703, heretofore referred to, the lever 1711 which is under constant tension because ofthe spring 1783,Y will be permitted to oscillate in an anti-clockwise direction untilits forward arm'contacts and is limited by the stop or adjusting screw marked B1755, which is mounted in a bracket 1755 and provided with a lock nut 1736. Thus, the amount of oscillationpermitted to the lever 1711 may be regulated by the operator and .consequently the amount of throw or movement imparted to the line spacing mechanism through the medium of operating connections hereinafter described,l may be varied lfor obtaining greater or' less degrees of movement of 'the line spacing mechanism and consequentlv different amounts of line spacing. It will be understood from the foregoing description that athe'oscillation of the shaft 1703 exceeds that of the lever 1711 the shaft 1703 is moved farther to complete" its entire stroke and as such shaft 1703 returns; actuated in a clockwise direction by l.ej'iiit'able spring tension, 'as by Ameans of the 'spring 1781, it will pick up the lever 1711 .Where it left it and carry it back to the normal position. It will therefore be understood that the amount of movement of the lever 1711 lis directly under the control of y vthe stop B1755, and thattheedegrce of such f nier-,eea

Y movement may be varied, as determinedby nally slotted intermediate its ienrrth so as to receive the other spring pin or stud 1760. Theupper end of the link-1710 is pivotally connected to another link 1712, which is itself directlv connected with the Afeeding ,mechanism, these links' forming the operating connection or medium between the lever 1711 and such feedingr mechanism, with the result that the oscillations of Asuch lever are imparted to the feeding` mechanism and the platen rotated a line space at every oscillation. The nin 1760 not only guides the link 1710 in its described movement, but also acts as a stop in the downward movement of such link so as to determine the evtent of such movement and the proper position of the lever 1711 under normal conditions, such position being indicatedimfull lines in Fig. It will be lobserved that the two links 1710 and 1712 are looselv pivoted at a point in the line of or coincident with the extended axis of pivoting` -of the carriage, such axis being atthe center of the stud 1761, with the result thatiwhen the carriage is thrown back to expose ,the printing' line no movement of the feeding mechanism can take structions of line spacing mechanism such l place and conseouently such movement of movement. of the carriage causes the usual ratchet wheel to be moved .slightly forward 'in a clockwise direction. with the result that upper end with a plate 1610 looselv pivoted on the platen shaft or spindle 17 05, and carrying at its outer end a pawl 1611 which is spring pressed'inwardly so .as to engage the teeth of a ratchet wheel 1630. The hereto- .fore described oscillations of the lever 1711 are directly imparted to this pawl-carrying plate 1610 and by it transmitted VVthrough its pawl to the lratchet wheel 1630.

When the machine is normal. all the parts will be in the position shown in solid lines in Fig. I, but as the operating handle starts forward the parts will graduallvmove toward the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 'I and will come to such dotted-line position shortly before-the handle reaches the end -of its forward stroke. such result being` attained by means o'f the shape or conteur of the cam face ofthe plate 17 541- on the shaft 1100. According to the present and particular construction now being located that the feed -mav be connected I shaft, but as a matter of fact, the.I same is, .indirectly connected therewith in 'such manand the latter the driven member.

described the feed p awl 1611 lin traveling from the position shown in solid lines to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. I will lmovepast and engage -the fourth tooth on the 4ratchet wheel, and as the operating handle or main shaft .ofthe machine starts on its return stroke and the feed pawl is gradually moved or oscillated back to its' solidline position, the ratchet )vheel will be partially rotated in? a clockwise direction through a space equal to four ratchet-teeth.

As hereinbefore suggested, there is a great tendency of the platen ,to travel, slightly farther than'itis actually moved by the feed pawl, dueto rapid speed or quick stroke or touch of some operators, with the resultv that unequal line spacing is caused. Ilo prevent such over-rotation, I provide locking mechanism which serves to lock the feed pawl to the ratchet upon its return to .normal position, that is when theV samev comes to rest, after having partlally rotated the ratchet wheel and the platen shaft to which it is operatively -connected.' rI`he lock-l ing mechanism comprises a stud 1651 rigidlv fixed in the right-hand end plate y1719 i of the carri-age frame, '.such stud being so pawl l1611 will be' in contact with itiwhenvit comes, to rest. It will now be readily seen that when the feed pawl 1611 is resting against and detained by the locking stud 1651, it willbe impossible vfor-such pawl to rise out of engage- In other Words, the feed pawl 1611 is rigidly locked in engagement with the ratchet So far as the partsor features alreadyl described are concerned, the ,ratchet wheel 'directly with 4the platen ner that it is possible to move the platen manually in either direction, with the result that the operator is enabled to move or adjust the platen by hand to any desired position. Therefore, in the present instance the ratchet wheel 1630 is loosely mounted upon the platen shaft and recessed in such manner as to form a case or barrel 1630a serving as a friction ring, the same being' slightly greater in diameter than the irregular-shaped disk 1612 arranged therewithin thel former constituting the driving member This disk is. inthe present instance, three-armed forming marginal recesses and is rigidly secured or fixed to the platen shaft in suitable manner. Between the adjacent arms of the disk are vformed two angles at the lower-inner corners of the arms and exactly opposed'to each other. Between the adja- Arollers form a ment with the teeth of the ratchet wheel.`

' When the parts come *case the platen i absolutely prevent which, are spring .pressed by means of -springs 1781toward the'highest points of their respective angles with which they co.- operate, with the result that such rollers are forced into close contact with bothrthe disk 1612 and thebarrel of the ratchet wheel, thereby forming a strong frictional connection, s0 that when the ratchet Wheel and its barrel are oscillated inthe manner already described the movement will be communicated to the disk 1612 and the platen shaft without any lost motion or play whatsoever. A

A single set of the rollers, directly opposed to each other, would be' sufficient to accomplish the desired end, but in order to create no unnecessary friction and to prevent strain on the shaft carrying the platen,`

I prefer to provide the three sets of pairs ofthese rollers vas illustrated and just de* scribed and to evenly distribute them in a circle around the disk so that all the parts will be balanced.

It will be understood that when the ratchet moved or oscillated in a clockwise Wheelis Fig. I, by means of the feed pawl,

direction,

Athe three rollers 176% have a tendency to roll out of Atheir angles on the disk 1612, but as there is no i give toeither the disk 1612 0r the barrel of the ratchet wheel, such driving connection between such disk and barrel and the disk is thereby partially rotated or moved through the same arc that the ratchet Wheel is caused to travel.

to the position indicated in solid lines in Fig. I, there is a members alternate and.

tendency for the heavy platen 1797 to travel slightly farther on account of its momentum, due to causes already stated, but as the ratchet wheel is rigidly locked through -the medium of the feed pawl and its locking stud 1651, it will be evident that further rotation of the ratchet wheel is impossible, and in 1797 should attempt to travel farther, it will, of course, simply exert a force in a clockwise direction on the disk 16.12, but as such diskl attempts to rotate in a clockw-isedirection the opposing rollers 17611 being spring pressedinto their respective 'opposite angles, form a solid lock and any movement of the disk independently of the ratchet wheel. evident, therefore, that so long as the rollers 1764 and 1764.15 are operatie the ratchet wheel is rigidly and automatically lockedV to the platen shaft and that they will both have to inove exactly at the same time and exactly the sameamount, but -in order to enable the operator to turn the platen easily by handV to any desired position, I have pro; vided suitable means which in effect renders such rollers inoperative, with the result that the platen shaft, as well as its disk 1612,

may be moved freely in either direction independently of' the ratchet wheel and its barrel. To this end, I have provided a plate 1747, which is loosely mounted on the platen shaft and carries three studs 1743 equi-distantly spaced andv in such relative position or location that when the parts are assembled, as shownin Fig. II, such studs. take the position shown in section in Fig. IV. This plate 1747 is provided with a hub, which carries at its outer end a knurled knob 1795. The plate 1747 which, as stated, is loosely mounted on the platen shaftperforms no function during the ordinary operation of the machine further than. closing the outer or open end ofthe barrel of the ratchet wheel. When, however, the operator.

desires to rotate' the platen any desired amount `thv knurled knob 1795 is simply turned in one direction or the other, with the result that the pins 1743, by reason of their engagement with threecorresponding rollers of the sets of rollers, rendersI the same inoperative and thereby breaks the friction connection between4 the disk 1612 and the ratchet wheel 1630. For instance, if the operator wishes to turn the plate in a clockwise direction, Fig. I, he simply turns the -knob and plate 1747 in that direction, which movement likewise oscillates the pins 1743 in the same direction, with the result that such pins engage the rollers 1764, which of course permits the disk 1612 to move in a clockwise direction without affecting or moving the ratchet wheel. wishes to rotate the platen in an anti-clockwise direction, he simplyturns the 'knurled knob 1735 in an anti-clockwise direction causing the pins to engage the other rollers 17 64%, whereupon the reverse action will 'take place.

It will be understood that the plate 1747 can be slightly oscillated in either direction at any time without interfering with the rollers 1764 and 176% as the pins 1743 do not occupy all the space between such rollers. AThis particular construction is preferable and desirable'in order that plenty of room may be had for pla between such rollers, so that the pins 1743 will not in any way'interfere with the action of the rollers in thelordinary operation of the machine and not unless the knob 1795 is positively moved by the operator.

By the use of my invention all possibility ofY overthrow of the platen is prevented, and.

moreover, means are provided for obtaining an independent -movement of the platen without interfering with the ratchet wheel.

Moreover, my construction is such that it is imp ossible to move vor place the ratchet v wheel in such position as nby throwing the carriage back that full aiidproper line space is not obtained and atevery operation of the machine, in other'words, the bodily move- If the operator disk.

menate ment or shifting of the carriage, together with the ratchet wheel has no effect whatsoever upon the amount of the line space immediately after such carriage has been restored to normal position.

I claim:

1. The combination of a roller platen, a ratchet wheel loosely mounted concentric therewith and having an annular flange, a disk secured .to the platen within said flange and peripherally notched angularly, a roller in the notch, and a knob concentric with the platen and having a 'pin to engage said roller, said knobv rotatable to disable the latter and then turn the platen independently of the ratchet wheel.

2.' The combination of a roller platen, a ratchet wheel loosely mounted concentric therewith and having an annular flange, a

ldisk secured to the platen within said flange and having a series of peripheral recesses, the bottoms of which are cammed in opposite directions from an intermediate point, a pair of rollers in each notch and a knob having a pin projecting between the rollers' of each pair, saidknob rotatable to disable either roller and turn the platen independ-4 ently of the ratchet wheel.

separatem-11ers in the angles respevctivelv,A

means for normally pressing the nollers to engaging position, one roller making clutching engagement between said ring and disk` in the line spacing operation and the other roller making clutching engagement be-4 tween said members to lock the platen against independent forward rotation, and a movable disk loosely mounted on the platenv shaft and closing the open end of the clutch ring, said disk being provided with an. inwardly directed pin normally positioned between said rollers and arranged to be moved to engage either one -of said rollers according to the direction lof movement of said 4. In line spacing mechanism for adding machines, typewrit'ing vmachines, and the like, the combination with the rotatable platen and its shaft, a ratchet wheel loosely mounted on the platen shaft, and a swinging pawl; of a friction clutch device comprising a clutch ring on the ratchet wheel, a disk connected with -the platen and having aplurality of arms with a pair of opposing angles between adjacent arms, series of rollers in the angles respectively, one series transmitting the movement. of the menace ratchet wheel to the disk and platen and the other series locking the platen against independent forward rotation, and a series of pins arranged to be simultaneously moved to engage the rollers of' one or the other Y series according to the direction of moveplaten and its shaftY` ment.

5. In line spacing mechanism for adding machines, typewritingmachines, and the like, the combination with the rotatable ing pawl; of a friction clutch ldevice comprising a clutch ring on the ratchet wheel, a disk connected with the platen and having a plurality of arms with a pair lof opposing l angles between adjacent arms, series of rollers in the angles respectively, one series transmitting the movement of the ratchet wheel to the disk and platen and the other series locking the platen against independent forward rotation, and a disk provided '-with a series of laterally projecting pins normally positioned between the rollers and @epics of Vthis: patent may be ont adapted to engage the rollers of one or the other series according tothe direction of movement.

6. A rotatable platen, line spacing mechanism for rotating the same comprising a,

ratchet wheel connected therewith, a swinging pawl coperating with the ratchet wheel to move the same foreach line space, a carrier which is minintedl to swing on the platen shaft and on which the pawl is pivoted, a

rocking lever, and a pair of links pivoted to each other and pivoted respectively to thev pawl carrier and tothe rocking levier., A

7. A rotatable platemline spacmg'mechanism for rotating the same comprising a ratchet-wheel connected therewith, a swinging pawl coperating with the ratchet wheel to move the same foreach line space, 4a carrier which is mounted to swing on the' platen shaft and on which the pawl is piv oted; a-rocking lever, means for adjusting the degree of lmovement of such lever, opj

erating connections between the lever" and pawl carrier, and means for vibrating said V lever with provisions for lost motion. A

with the pawl carrier, a spring-held rock shaft having a one-way driving engagement with said lever, and a reciprocating bar operatively engagedk with said rockshaft.

9. A rotatable platen, line spacing mechanism for rotating the same comprising a a ratchet wheel loosely 'mounted on the platen shaft, and a swingcarrying arm.

ratchetwheel connected therewith,` a swinging pawl coperating with the ratchet wheel to move the same for each line space, a carrier which is mounted to swing on the platen shaft and on which the pawl `is pivoted, a rocking lever operatively connected with the pawl carrier, a rock shaft for actuating such lever, a reciprocating link or bar operatively connectedy with the rock shaft, a camv 1715, and an operating connecio between the cam and'thereciprocating, m 10. .A rotatable platen, line spacing inechanism for rotating the same comprising a ratchet wheel connected therewith, a swing-y ing pawl cop'eratingwith the ratchet wheel to move the same for each line space, a carrier which is mounted to swing on. the platen shaft and on which the pawl is pivoted, a

" rocking lever' -operatively connected with a rock shaft forA1 ahtuating' the paw-l carrier',

bar op,-

such lever, a reciprocatinglink or eratively connected with the rock shaft, a'

cam 1715, and an operating connection hetween the'am and the reciprocating link, comprising a lrocking lever connected at one end to such link andhavingat its other end a roller coperatingA` with said cam.

Y l1. i The combination, with l. the platen n frame and rotatable platenl and also the carria-ge toy which the platen frame is pivoted, of line spacing mechanismcomprising a ratchet wheel shaftyafriction clutch' connection between 1720 pivot-ally loosely mounted on the platen such wheel' and the platen shaft, ar pawl co operating with the ratchet wheel, .a pawl carrier on which the pawl is mounted, and

ka pair of flinke, one of which is operatively connected with the pawl carrier and the other arranged to be operated by a movable part of the machine to'which the paper carriage is applied, said links being pivoted to .each other atl'a point coincident with the axisof pivoting of the platen vframe to its carriage.

l2. ln combination with a platen havinga ratchet wheel for driving the same, of an arm, a pawl, carried thereby, a lever, for

oscillating the said arm, and a pair of links connectingthe lever to the arm-carrying pawl for operating the latter.

13. ln combination with a platen a ratchet concentric therewith, arm, a pawl carried by the arm and engaging the ratchet, a lever, for operating the l arm, a slotted link, af pin engagingthe slot in the link,l and a link connecting JESSE G. VINCENT. Witnesses H. W. SPALDING, R. S. llffilnennr.

v`einen for ave cents each, "oy aaressng the Commissioner et Patents, Washington, E?, t, i

the link and the pawlf 

